University Southern California Trojans
Photo by: John McGillen/USC Athletics
With Joy and Fire, Chad Baker-Mazara is Igniting USC
December 10, 2025 | Men's Basketball
In his final year of college basketball, Chad Baker-Mazara is living out a lifelong dream at USC.
The smile enters the room before Chad Baker-Mazara does.
It's the first thing you notice about USC's 6-foot-7, graduate wing. His love for the game is genuine, infectious and makes you believe basketball is still fun at this level.
"The day I lose that joy, I promise you I'll stop playing basketball," Baker-Mazara said.
In his first season at USC, that joy isn't going anywhere.
Baker-Mazara is leading USC in scoring at nearly 21 points per game. He dropped a career-high 34 in a triple-overtime thriller against Troy. On Nov. 26, he became the first player in history to win back-to-back Maui Invitational titles while taking home tournament MVP honors after scoring 23 points in the championship game against Arizona State.
He made basketball history and fulfilled a longtime dream of playing at USC. And after being underestimated throughout his career, Baker-Mazara has finally found a place where he can be a productive player while staying true to himself.
"You know how many people told me I'm not good enough, I'm too skinny, too emotional?" Baker-Mazara said. "But I still like where I am today because it's the position that God put me in."
Born in the Dominican Republic, Baker-Mazara grew up in a basketball family. His father played basketball at South Carolina State before playing and coaching overseas. During high school, Baker-Mazara moved to the United States to live with his grandfather and had to navigate the challenges of living in a new country and learning a new language.
Despite all of the changes he experienced, the game he loved remained the same.
His college journey took him from coast to coast. Each stop was another opportunity to prove himself and learn something new. Plus, each move made him tougher. At San Diego State, he earned Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year. At Auburn, he flourished. He earned All-SEC Third Team honors, was a Julius Irving Small Forward of the Year finalist and made a Final Four run where he posted a team-high 18 points and four steals against the eventual national champion Florida Gators.
Then, Baker-Mazara decided to make his final collegiate move toward a lifelong goal of playing at USC. Within his first phone call with Head Coach Eric Musselman, he quickly fostered a deep connection with Musselman because of his time coaching the Dominican Republic National Team in 2010-11.
"We talked for 45 minutes to an hour," Baker-Mazara recalled. "We weren't even really talking about recruiting that much. After the first two minutes, we were just sharing stories from when he coached back in the Dominican Republic. I just talked with him about players I look up to."
Most importantly, Baker-Mazara found a coach who matched his larger-than-life, passionate personality.
"People say that he's a fiery person like me, and that is true," Baker-Mazara said. "I feel like that's why we have a really special connection, because we are both very passionate. Because of that, I was like, 'Okay, this might be the guy for me.'"
USC had not only the right guy but also the right city. Growing up, one of Baker-Mazara's biggest sports inspirations was Kobe Bryant.
"Kobe worked harder than anybody, and I try to live by that," Baker-Mazara says. "It was always a dream for me to play in the city he played in."
He wears No. 4 like his father and former Sacramento Kings star Chris Webber, as an homage to the first jersey his father gave him. Every time he puts on the cardinal and gold, he carries the history of both players with him.
"I'm a kid from the D.R. who basically has played and lived everywhere in the US because of basketball," he said. "So it's pretty cool what this world has been able to show me and support me through the game."
So far, Baker-Mazara has given USC reliable scoring. Thanks to him, the program has had its best start to the season since 2021-22. As one of the most experienced players in college basketball, his veteran voice in the locker room and experience in the biggest games are valuable.
But he's a selfless leader. He's quick to give his teammates credit for stepping up and leading throughout the season.
"I tell the guys we're all leaders," he explained. "At the end of the day, we're helping each other to be the best version of ourselves. You never know when it might be your time to lead us. You might have a better game than everybody."
Baker-Mazara's personal goals for this season include earning Big Ten Honors and averaging two steals per game. His defensive evolution has allowed him to embrace the challenge of guarding the opposing team's best player every night.
"Now, I love guarding the best team player," he says. "I love that challenge for myself."
Throughout it all, his joy fuels the team. Baker-Mazara is setting the tone with that ever-present smile.
"I'm doing what I love," Baker-Mazara said. "I'm in this rectangle where nothing can bother me only if I let a bad play bother me. Every game, I try to remember I can only control what I can control, and that I'm happy out there. I'm playing for the dream school that I always wanted to play for. I'm in Los Angeles. My big brother's here watching me play. My own people back at home are watching me play. I'm always laughing and smiling and having a good time. That's who I am."
This season, he's looking forward to all aspects of the journey.
"Just going up and down, games, flying the trips, late nights with the teammates. Them high-highs, them low-lows," he said.
The kid from the Dominican Republic who people said was too skinny, too emotional and not good enough is making history and playing for everything he ever wanted.
In Baker-Mazara, USC has a leader who plays with fierce competitiveness and pure joy. Who has been counted out and came back stronger. Who knows what it takes to compete on the biggest stages because he's been there before.
The smile enters the room first. The buckets follow close behind.
It's the first thing you notice about USC's 6-foot-7, graduate wing. His love for the game is genuine, infectious and makes you believe basketball is still fun at this level.
"The day I lose that joy, I promise you I'll stop playing basketball," Baker-Mazara said.
In his first season at USC, that joy isn't going anywhere.
Baker-Mazara is leading USC in scoring at nearly 21 points per game. He dropped a career-high 34 in a triple-overtime thriller against Troy. On Nov. 26, he became the first player in history to win back-to-back Maui Invitational titles while taking home tournament MVP honors after scoring 23 points in the championship game against Arizona State.
He made basketball history and fulfilled a longtime dream of playing at USC. And after being underestimated throughout his career, Baker-Mazara has finally found a place where he can be a productive player while staying true to himself.
"You know how many people told me I'm not good enough, I'm too skinny, too emotional?" Baker-Mazara said. "But I still like where I am today because it's the position that God put me in."
Born in the Dominican Republic, Baker-Mazara grew up in a basketball family. His father played basketball at South Carolina State before playing and coaching overseas. During high school, Baker-Mazara moved to the United States to live with his grandfather and had to navigate the challenges of living in a new country and learning a new language.
Despite all of the changes he experienced, the game he loved remained the same.
His college journey took him from coast to coast. Each stop was another opportunity to prove himself and learn something new. Plus, each move made him tougher. At San Diego State, he earned Mountain West Conference Sixth Man of the Year. At Auburn, he flourished. He earned All-SEC Third Team honors, was a Julius Irving Small Forward of the Year finalist and made a Final Four run where he posted a team-high 18 points and four steals against the eventual national champion Florida Gators.
Then, Baker-Mazara decided to make his final collegiate move toward a lifelong goal of playing at USC. Within his first phone call with Head Coach Eric Musselman, he quickly fostered a deep connection with Musselman because of his time coaching the Dominican Republic National Team in 2010-11.
"We talked for 45 minutes to an hour," Baker-Mazara recalled. "We weren't even really talking about recruiting that much. After the first two minutes, we were just sharing stories from when he coached back in the Dominican Republic. I just talked with him about players I look up to."
Most importantly, Baker-Mazara found a coach who matched his larger-than-life, passionate personality.
"People say that he's a fiery person like me, and that is true," Baker-Mazara said. "I feel like that's why we have a really special connection, because we are both very passionate. Because of that, I was like, 'Okay, this might be the guy for me.'"
USC had not only the right guy but also the right city. Growing up, one of Baker-Mazara's biggest sports inspirations was Kobe Bryant.
"Kobe worked harder than anybody, and I try to live by that," Baker-Mazara says. "It was always a dream for me to play in the city he played in."
He wears No. 4 like his father and former Sacramento Kings star Chris Webber, as an homage to the first jersey his father gave him. Every time he puts on the cardinal and gold, he carries the history of both players with him.
"I'm a kid from the D.R. who basically has played and lived everywhere in the US because of basketball," he said. "So it's pretty cool what this world has been able to show me and support me through the game."
So far, Baker-Mazara has given USC reliable scoring. Thanks to him, the program has had its best start to the season since 2021-22. As one of the most experienced players in college basketball, his veteran voice in the locker room and experience in the biggest games are valuable.
But he's a selfless leader. He's quick to give his teammates credit for stepping up and leading throughout the season.
"I tell the guys we're all leaders," he explained. "At the end of the day, we're helping each other to be the best version of ourselves. You never know when it might be your time to lead us. You might have a better game than everybody."
Baker-Mazara's personal goals for this season include earning Big Ten Honors and averaging two steals per game. His defensive evolution has allowed him to embrace the challenge of guarding the opposing team's best player every night.
"Now, I love guarding the best team player," he says. "I love that challenge for myself."
Throughout it all, his joy fuels the team. Baker-Mazara is setting the tone with that ever-present smile.
"I'm doing what I love," Baker-Mazara said. "I'm in this rectangle where nothing can bother me only if I let a bad play bother me. Every game, I try to remember I can only control what I can control, and that I'm happy out there. I'm playing for the dream school that I always wanted to play for. I'm in Los Angeles. My big brother's here watching me play. My own people back at home are watching me play. I'm always laughing and smiling and having a good time. That's who I am."
This season, he's looking forward to all aspects of the journey.
"Just going up and down, games, flying the trips, late nights with the teammates. Them high-highs, them low-lows," he said.
The kid from the Dominican Republic who people said was too skinny, too emotional and not good enough is making history and playing for everything he ever wanted.
In Baker-Mazara, USC has a leader who plays with fierce competitiveness and pure joy. Who has been counted out and came back stronger. Who knows what it takes to compete on the biggest stages because he's been there before.
The smile enters the room first. The buckets follow close behind.
Players Mentioned
G/F
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